Biotrend runs a state of the art facility for the development and optimization of bioprocesses, from strain screening and raw material pre-processing to process integration, scale-up and validation.

Microbial strain screening

Micro-scale multiplexing capability includes culture (in anaerobic, microaerobic and fully aerobic conditions), centrifugal separation, extraction and analysis (UV/Vis spectrophotometer and HPLC).

This high-throughput platform is optimally designed to the screening of biocatalysts and for preliminary assessment of process conditions. Typical screening activities include:

Strains producing a specific compound, for example carotenoids (beta-carotene and lycopene), organic acids (succinic, lactic and acetic acid) or others such as ethanol and biosurfactants.

Strains able to cope with specific medium requirements, such as strains that grow on agroindustrial residues (ex. lignocellulosic hydrolysates and pulp and paper waste streams) in which the ability to use… - Multiplexed 1 mL microplate cultivation, interfaced with separation and analyitical equipment.

- Fully controlled bioreactors: 5x 2L, 2x 10L, 2x 50L and 1x 200L.

- Membrane filtration (ultra and microfiltration).

- Centrifugation (tubular and disk-stack).

- High-pressure homogenisation.

- Ion exchange and adsorption.

- Vacuum evaporation (continuous small scale).

- Preparative chromatography.

- Spray-drying.

- Freeze-drying.

- Miscellaneous.

- Overhead stirrers.

- Fume hoods.

- Laminar flow hoods (one moveable).

- Microscope with image acquisition.

- 20ºC and -80ºC freezers.

- UV/VIS Spectrophotometry (cuvette and microplate)

- HPLC (IR and UV, including diode array)

- Off-gas analysis (O2 and CO2).
Drying ovens

 
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Microbial strain screening

Micro-scale multiplexing high-throughput platform to screen biocatalysts and for preliminary assessment of process conditions. Typical screening activities include:

Strains producing a specific compound, for example carotenoids (beta-carotene and lycopene), organic acids (succinic, lactic and acetic acid) or others such as ethanol and biosurfactants.

Strains able to cope with specific medium requirements, such as strains that grow on agroindustrial residues (ex. lignocellulosic hydrolysates and pulp and paper waste streams) in which the ability to use C5 carbon sources and to resist to the presence of inhibitors (ex. furfural and derivatives, heavy metals) is important.

Process development and optimization

Process development and optimization is performed with our battery of fully controlled bioreactors, connected to data acquisition and control software. Normally fed-batch cultivations aiming at maximizing productivities, yields and…. Yes. service.

Machine Technology Center Turku Ltd. is a modern learning, training and development center for enterprises, educational institutes and researchers in the region of Turku and Southwest Finland. The Center provides a dynamic and comprehensive environment for applied research and professional specialisation. Its facilities and services form a framework which supports and fosters cooperation between educational institutes, researcher organisations and local businesses. Services of the Center are offered to both students and professionals interested in deepening their knowledge and developing their skills in modern production methods and production automation processes.

The main shareholders of Machine Technology Center Turku Ltd. are Turku University of Applied Sciences, the City of Turku, Vocational Adult Education Foundation of Turku, and The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries in Southwest Finland, alongside approximately 80 enterprises. As an interface between companies and educational institutes… Machine Technology Center Turku Ltd. offers companies a variety of services such as training, proto product design, product development, production development, manufacturing, measuring and calibration services. The Center specialises in high-tech laser, robot welding, sheet metal, mechanisation and production automation technologies. Its machine tools include a combi sheet metal machine, a robot welding station, two laser units (2 kW and 10 kW), a bending machine with a robot, FMS-system, two machine centers, a multitasking turning machine (9-axis) and ZEISS Prismo Coordinate measuring machine.
. One of the main objectives on Machine Technology Center Turku Ltd. is to activate and support companies to develop their products as well as their production and manufacturing processes. The modern operational environment of the Center and our extensive professional networks provide companies with excellent opportunities to participate in a wide range of research and development projects. Services offered by the Center can focus on developing already existing products and production processes, or they can start already at prototype design and pilot stage. Services are tailored according to the needs of businesses and may include, for example, design, testing, production and automation services. 
. Yes. service.

Due to its nature grounded in mechanical engineering, the Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (TEMA) is a strategic and relevant Research Centre for (and with) the Community, particularly business and industry.

TEMA is included in the “Portuguese Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Relevance”, having been classified by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and CCDRC – Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Centro with the highest rating ("Category 1 - Those that have demonstrated high scientific potential and are considered to have high strategic regional and/or national relevance"), following the reference in https://www.fct.pt/apoios/equipamento/roteiro/index.phtml.en

TEMA Research Centre supports a multidimensional structure embracing three strategic specialization vectors: i) Fundamental and Applied Research; ii) Innovation, Technological Development and Technology Transfer to the Society; and iii) Consulting, Training and Services.

One of the key… As a result of the investments conducted by TEMA over its 20 years of existence, the Research Centre is able to provide a wide range of highly specialized equipment. The surface analysis system by Multi technique XPS/UPS and AES highlights the uniqueness of the services that the Research Centre provides to the Community. Namely, it is the only one available in Portugal, regarding the vacuum environment conditions at the 2E-10 mbar level. Together with this specificity and based in the mechanical engineering relies the Research Centre’s diversity. The Research Centre TEMA is equipped with a set of mechanical samples’ tests, whose combination can be considered as unique in Portugal. Ranging from high precision machinery of 1E-6 N (e.g. universal dynamic testing machine with a measuring range of 100 N), passing by equipment specialized in measuring biological tissues, obtained by means of in vitro cultures, to machines of 1000 kN that allows for testing advanced high strength steel alloys. It therefore becomes…. The main purpose of the Research Infrastructure TEMA is to provide services of excellence support for the scientific and technological research in the area of mechanical engineering, addressing the needs and demands of the clients and partners at the national and international levels. The value proposition of the Research Infrastructure TEMA is the ability to easily address complex challenges due to its natural combination of multidisciplinary areas, fed by a human capital whose expertise is highly recognized and complemented by a set of advanced equipment.

The priorities’ axes assumed by the Research Unit TEMA are: i) Materials; and ii) Health, properly contextualized with the region’s reality and, consequently, aligned with the Innovation Platforms: i) Sustainable industrial solutions; and ii) Technologies for the quality of life. In parallel, the Societal Challenges in which the Research Infrastructure TEMA has a direct and strategic action and responsibilities are i) Health; Demographic evolution and…. Yes. service.

The ABC Center for Intelligent Robotics (IROB) is a recently established independent research center within Óbuda University, devoted to promote the scientific and technological advancement of robotics.

IROB has three major focuses for operation:

Cutting edge development in the fundamentals of robotics—including hardware and software; mechatronics, control and application.
Bridging the development projects to particular applications, tapping into the scientific results to solve the emerging issues of modern society.
Disseminating current knowledge about robotics both in structured form via university courses and to the wider public.

The IROB at Óbuda University is the founder and current leader of the Central European Living Lab for Intelligent Robotics (CELLI), a network of 18 robotics centers and SMEs form 7 countries. It is also member of the euRobotics aisbl, and active in numerous Topical Groups.

The services offered to thirsd parties include basic RnD, prototypization, product… The center is well equipped with generic, traditional industrial robots, and also high-end human-centered robots. It also features multiple surgical robots and in-house developed prototypes. The eqippment of the machine shop fulfills all basic requirements.

Flexible laboratory area of 400 m2, biggest room is 102 m2.
Robots and related equipment:

1x da Vinci surgical robot system (IS2000) with DVRK controllers
1x KUKA youBot
1x KUKA iiwa cooperate robot
1x FANUC m1-iA delta robot
1x FANUC M-430iA/2F industrial robot
4x NAO 4th gen.
1x FreeHand laparoscope holder
2x Falcon haptic device
6 DoF tracking devices, 2 Oculus Rift V1 DevKits, Kinect sensors, LRF, etc.

Well-equipped workshop for prototyping (including machining and 3D printing capabilities)
Computers, software and development tools

. Due to its extensive experience in robot control and excellent laboratory background, IROB will be the responsible for developing the prototype’s sensing, actuation and control strategy, and making use of knowledged-base systems for optimal planning and execution, also to guide the operations of the pilot experiments performed within the project. The already existing robotic infrastructure allows for setting up a broad range of lifelike test scenarios assisted by conventional industrial robotics  (Fanuc robots, KUKA robots) to real surgical applications (da Vinci Research Kit). Óbuda University has direct access to medical research facilities and small animal laboratories via its national and international cooperation partners (including Semmelweis Medical University in Budapest and the Austrian Center for Medical Innovation and Technology in Wiener Neustadt).
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CBIMO is an interdisciplinary group working within Faculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries (West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin). 
 
CBIMO R&D activities are mainly focused on following topics:
- bioimmobilization and microencapsulation of living cells, bioactive substances and food-additives (encapsulation from macro- down to to nano- scale)
- biodegradable food-packaging materials (mainly cellulose, starch and PLA based materials)
- characterization and various methods of food packaging
- isolation, chemical modification and purification of biopolymers (specifically polysaccharides and their hydrophobic derivatives)
- physico-chemical characterization of biopolymers.

See the presentation of CBIMO R&D activities and recent projects.

 
Pilot plant of innovative packaging materials (manufacture, processing and modification of polymers/plastics and packaging materials - paper, paper board and plastic films)
Pilot plant of microencapsulation technologies (spray drying and other encapsulation methods to form aqueous- and dry- based particles of nano- and micro- size)
Analytical facilities (characterisation methods including HPLC/GPC, RAMAN, FTIR, SEM, 
Materials testing (mechanical, thermo-mechanical, coating/printing of packaging materials, surface characterisation, gas barrier properties).

For more info go to CBIMO WWW page:

http://cbimo.zut.edu.pl/en/centre_cbimo/profile

 
. CBIMO expertise:
- microencapsulation based on natural and modified polymers (polysaccharides and proteins),
- immobilization of living cells (mammalian and bacteria),
- food-bioactive substances (nutraceuticals) and taste and smell masking,
- formation and characterization of microcapsules (mechanical and permeability),
- formation, modification and characterization of packaging materials including mainly paper, paperboard and polymer films,
- food and packaging interaction "active packaging".

To learn more about our services go directly to CBIMO leaflets:
- packaging
- microencapsulation
. Yes. service.

The Centre for AI & Applied Data Analytics (CeADAR) is the national market-led technology centre for the research, development and deployment of AI & big data analytics technology and innovation, focusing on developing tools, techniques and technologies that enable people, organisations and industries to use AI & analytics for better decision making and competitive advantage.

The aim of CeADAR is to rapidly prototype and deliver AI & analytics technology and solutions to industry from an agenda that is solely defined by the needs of the market. The Centre’s primary outputs are prototypes, demonstrators and bespoke solutions co-developed with individual industry members.

The Centre is also one the the EU's 30 Digital Innovation Hubs in AI, an accredited i-Space from the BDVA. 

Along with NextGeneration in Dublin, the Centre set up the European Data Science and AI Awards (The DatScis) which showcases and celebrates the talent and success of individuals and companies in AI across the EU
The CeADAR centre www.ceadar.ie has a high bandwidth, high speed data centre to enable the real-time processing of very large quantities of fast streaming data of the sort that is experienced in large industrial process control and prediction applications. CeADAR maintains its own data centre as well as using web services from various providers. Recently the Centre was awarded national funding to acquire a supercomputer which will also be accessible to the nation ecosystem of SMEs and MNCs
. The CeADAR Centre undertakes consultancy, contract research, participation in EU Horizon 2020 consortia, and develops up to 12 demonstrator projects per year in 2 cycles of 6 months each.

Each project is proposed by the industry members and is focused on close-to-market challenges.

The Centre has an extensive catalogue of technology demonstrators (>60), IP and AI/Machine Learning/Analytics technology reviews which are immediately available to members for evaluation.
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HILASE Centre is a semi-autonomous department of the Institute of Physics. The mission of HiLASE is to form a “Center of Excellence”, acting as a bridge between the academic world and industry, enabling new laser applications, technologies, and targeted development of diode pumped solid state laser systems (DPSSLs) with high average power and breakthrough potential. The HiLASE project was launched in 2011 and has already achieved leadership in the field of high pulse energy and high average power DPSSLs in IR, UV and D-UV. Selected areas for our laser applications are: materials processing, surface modifications and functionalization, laser improved mechanical engineering and modifications, semiconductors, biomedical and optics. HiLASE currently has more than 60 full-time employees and a truly international team of researchers. The overall annual budget is about 8 mil. USD, with rapidly increasing level of cooperation with industry and research institutions worldwide.
Fundamental wavelength of our laser system 1030 nm:

PERLA B-50, thin-disk picosecond laser <2 ps, 500W (@1030 nm), 1 kHz / 10 kHz repetion rate, pulse energy 50 mJ, M2 = 1.4
PERLA C-500, thin-disk picosecond laser <2 ps, 500W (@1030 nm), 100 kHz repetion rate, pulse energy 5 mJ, M2 = 1.4
PERLA C-800, thin-disk picosecond laser <2 ps, 800W (@1030 nm), 1 MHz repetion rate, pulse energy 0.8 mJ, M2 = 1.4
10 J @ 10Hz, nanosecond laser 2 - 10 ns 
100J @ 10Hz, nanosecond laser 2 - 10 ns
LIDT chamber ps / ns
LSP station

Harmonic conversion (picosecond systems):

low energy 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
high energy 2nd, 3rd
OPA mid-IR

. Services are provides in following categories: 

Contractual research and research services
Collaborative research
Access to laboratories

Basic topics are:

Process development
Technology validation
Laser beam time renting
Feasibility study & proof of concept
Prototyping of laser systems & components

. Yes. service.

Innovations for the digital society of the future are the focus of research and development work at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI. In this area, Fraunhofer HHI is a world leader in the development of mobile and optical communication networks and systems, fiber optical sensor systems as well as the processing and coding of video signals.

Together with international partners from research and industry, Fraunhofer HHI works in the whole spectrum of digital infrastructure – from fundamental research to the development of prototypes and solutions. The institute develops standards for information and communication technologies and creates new applications as an industry partner.

HHI is a member of EPIC and OptecBB
InP epitaxy and processing line

Polymer and silicon waveguide processing line

Fiber Bragg grating write facility

Electro optical measurement equipment up to 100 GHz bandwidth

Fiber loop testbeds
. Development

Prototype and demonstrator development

Characterization and testing
. Yes. service.

The centre CEPLANT at Masaryk University was established in 2010 in order to develop highly innovative plasma-based technologies for surface modifications according to the market demand, especially the demand of SME. It was enabled due to the more than 50 years lasting tradition of the high-quality applied research of plasma technologies and plasma sources at the Masaryk University.

The long-term vision is to establish a reputable centre that will be the leading Central European R&D institution in the field of in-line plasma surface treatments and will be sought after as an R&D partner by global international companies too.

The main R&D areas are:
1. Plasma treatment to gain required surface properties and plasma diagnostics and modelling (various plasma sources developed by CEPLANT - based on the unique patented technology DCSBD, and several commercial plasma sources);
2. Thin film deposition (preparation of wide range of thin films - metals, oxides, nitrides, ceramics; using different techniques -… Thanks to the funding by the European Regional Development Fund the centre CEPLANT was equipped with the following top devices for comprehensive surface analysis and plasma diagnostics and also laboratory and commercial plasma generators:

Plasma sources

DCSBD plasma reactor with robotic arm for small rigid samples
DCSBD plasma reactor for A4-size rigid samples
DCSBD plasma reactor for flexible samples
Large area Roll-to-Roll machine for surface treatments
Industrial Corona System for treating roll material Ahlbrandt
Atmospheric plasma beam and glide arc for surface treatment of planar and 3D objects (Diener Electronic GmbH Co.)
Plasma multijet system (patent EP 2009029)
Plasma pencil (patent: EP 1077021 and patent: US 6, 525, 481)

Optical characterization and plasma diagnostics

Optical Spectrometers FHR 1000 (Horiba, France), Shamrock (Andor, England)
Portable Spectrometers AvaSpec-ULS-TEC (Avantes, NL)
Laser Induced Fluorescence – LIF (pulsed (8 ns) tunable (200 nm -…. The centre CEPLANT offers the services and products relating to the following activities:

1. Plasma treatment

The researchers from the CEPLANT centre are especially dealing with a surface treatment of plane and flexible materials by the nonisothermal atmospheric pressure plasma generated mostly by the so called Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) that is also protected by the patent. The surface treatments can be carried out in an ambient air or to gain the required surface properties also in other gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide etc.

• plasma surface treatment of plane and flexible materials (textiles, foils, polymers, glass, rubber, metals, etc.)
• construction of “turnkey” plasma sources
• comparative studies of a various plasmas influence on the surface properties

2. Thin film deposition

The CEPLANT research team is also focused on the investigation and development of plasma assisted thin film deposition techniques. This research includes understanding of…. Yes. service.

National Institute for Research and Development in Mine Safety and Protection to Explosion – INSEMEX Petrosani, founded in 1949, performs basic and applied research, technological development and provides technical solutions in the regulated fields for public interest, regarding risk assessment and prevention in activities endangered by explosive and toxic atmospheres hazards. INSEMEX Petrosani performs research in the following directions: explosion protection, explosives and blasting techniques, safety of equipment and facilities, safety of mineral resources, environmental protection, mining and industrial ventilation, classification of underground works in terms of gas releases, rescue operations in toxic / explosive / flammable atmospheres. Also, the institute conducts research aimed at establishing the causes leading to events generated by explosions of combustible substances and by explosive materials, both for the industry, as well as for the civilian area.
INSEMEX is member of the International… The research infrastructure comprises performing and state-of-the-art equipment which enables to carry out large and complex RD&I activities similar to those performed by other European institutes (ie. INERIS, INRS France, PTB Germany). By using the “Facility for research/development and testing of explosive materials, flammable/toxic substances, explosion-proof equipment and training of intervention staff for toxic/flammable atmospheres – PCDIEx” which is considered an Installation of National Interest, there are provided various research and technological development services, such as: basic and applied research, technological development for the regulated fields of public national interest, regarding risk assessment and prevention for activities with explosive/toxic atmospheres hazard, including the use of explosives, environmental protection in areas affected by mining and connected activities, equipment testing and certification, staff training, rescue activities, mines closure, as well as development…. INSEMEX provides Scientific and technological services focused on ensuring the occupational health and safety in the mining, extractive, processing, and manufacturing industries, training for risk assessment, occupational noxious, protection to explosion of technical installations an equipment, explosives for civil uses and pyrotechnic articles, environmental protection, safety of mineral resources, industrial ventilation. INSEMEX is a Notified Body at Brussels (NB 1809), providing conformity assessment services for products covered by the following European Directives: - Directive 2014/34/UE on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres - Directive 2014/28/UE on the harmonization of the provisions relating to the placing on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses - Directive 89/686/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment -…. Yes. service.